Republican lawyer enters House District 44 race

Sabato DeVito says the incumbent sponsored an irresponsible bill, the one allowing motorcyclists to ride without helmets.

By DAN DeWITT

© St. Petersburg Times, published May 24, 2000

Spring Hill lawyer Sabato DeVito has announced he will join three other challengers in opposing state Rep. David Russell Jr. in this year's election.

DeVito, a 46-year-old Republican, said he is partly motivated by his disgust at the chaos of this year's Legislative session, which ended this month.

"I would try to bring some sanity to that seat, at least on behalf of District 44 and, hopefully, the entire state," said DeVito, who has been practicing law in Spring Hill for 31/2 years.

Originally from New York, he moved to Florida in 1980, and is a graduate of Stetson College of Law in Gulfport.

He faulted the Legislature for passing so many bills in the final days of the session and for allowing -- in many cases without reading the documents -- fundamental policy changes to pass as last-minute amendments. One of these is particularly important to Hernando County, DeVito said -- the elimination of local control over blasting at mining operations.

"I will make sure that I will read any law that I'm about to vote for," DeVito said.

DeVito blames Russell generally for participating in this process.

"It was on his watch," he said.

He blames him specifically for sponsoring what DeVito considers one of the most irresponsible bills, the one that lets motorcyclists ride without helmets as long as they have at least $10,000 in insurance.

"That is barely enough to cover the Bayflite (helicopter) ride and the initial emergency room visit," DeVito said.

DeVito's Republican opposition in the Sept. 5 primary includes Russell and Brooksville engineer Nick Nicholson. Gregory Williams, who lives in Ridge Manor and works as a probation officer at the Sumter Correctional Institution, and Shirley Johnson, a Spring Hill insurance agent, are the two Democratic candidates. The general election is Nov. 3.

© St. Petersburg Times. All rights reserved.